let's put this to rest.....

ok. ok....you brain-squeezer lovers are right.

they look borderline amazing!

co-conceived and shot by sussy

while i'm off living.....

i thought i'd remind you of one of my favorite dating highlights
(or lowlights....however you look at it).

remember the italian stallion?

i've had many a request to go toe-to-toe with "peter priesthood" @
why mormon girls stay single over a myriad of issues.

while i've thought long and hard about his possible war, i'm not really interested in going tit-for-tat with a cyber geek who is often hilarious, misguided, irreverent,
and sometimes totally correct.
will i be sparking a dungeons and dragons duel?

i will, however, chat with you about a serious cultural issue in the
"mormon dating scene." please understand that i'm not complaining-i'm ok.
this gal is just observing...

why don't mormon men date?

i have had the awesome luxury to go on many dating adventures
(with men of and of not my faith). i'm a lucky one... some of these adventures have been
well-documented distasters but a great many of them
have been amazing (they're just not as funny to write about ;).

i know many LDS girls who aren't as fortunate considering we outnumber the
boys 2 or 3 to 1--
and, lets be honest, most of my dating has been with men who are not of my faith.
upon reflection, i find one key aspect that these suitors have in common:
they ask me to go on proper dates.

see, i'm of the "old-fashioned" idea that men should be the pursuers. when i was 14, i was asked during a young women's organization exercise to write the
characteristics i was looking for in a future husband.
my list looked like this:

1. ambition


and that was it....
while my mom was borderline horrified by this sparse and somewhat terrifying list, i guess felt like ambition was kind of an all-inclusive umbrella which held;
RM, well educated, career-driven, witty, funny, creative, talented, interesting, handsome...someone who pursues.. etc.....
or, i guess you could say, the man i'm attracted to is the man who has the
gumption to pick up a phone and ask.

ladies, we enable these dudes!
by calling first, texting first, planning dessert parties, scheduling group events just to get in the same room with these guys is basically emasculating them.
i'm not suggesting we be totally passive...
(don't freak out, women's libbers... i'm as equal opportunity as they come-
i just like my men strong, and interested in me.)

flirt your brains out, be fun, express your interest subtly, and be a moving object of desire (MOD) then let him make a move... if he doesn't.... he's not the kind of man i'm interested in.
i feel it our duty to re-train this culteral dating epidemic!
have we enabled a group of lazy daters by having too many group church activities?
are they afraid that if they take a gal on a measly single date,
everyone in their fishbowl will assume that they're dating?

to that, i say, "cowboy up!"

i'm not choosy. in fact, the simpler the first date, the better...
nothing is more awkward than a man blowing a wad of cash on a meal
that you're miserable attending...
a simple hot chocolate (ang, that's for you!), a walk around the block, lunch...
you get the idea.

anyway,
that's the man i'm interested in... the one who will court me.

and sorry, "peter priesthood," there aren't many LDS men who know how to do that anymore.

photo by sussy

are you going to san francisco?..... again?

i am.

off to celebrate sussy getting....older.

and to stir a little mischief.
do you have any suggestions?

see you soon, lovies.
thank you so much for the kind, kind, birth-iversary wishes!

pic by sussy

bare bones

i adore madeleine peyroux.

i got hip to her 11+ yrs ago and have been listening to her dreamy jazzy tunes ever since.
buy her newest, bare bones
or her oldest, dreamland.

anybody have any extra tickets to her concert in san francisco this friday?

happy birthday to mim !!

holy moses!

i have blogged an entire year of my life!

i must say, while this has been the most challenging & complicated year of my life,
i have found such unbelievable joy.
i really think by blogging my gratitudes, inspirations, and dreams, i have found happiness beyond compare.
turns out, recognizing the little things really does make you happy...

thank you for supporting, for encouraging, and for lifting me throughout this year.
i didn't expect anyone but sussy to read these ramblings, but have discovered a wealth of beautiful blog people i'm now proud to call friends.

so now that we're having a yearly check-in....

what do you want?
why do you read?
which posts are most interesting to you?
***
happy birthday to us!

&

thank you for being a friend.
(are you hearing the golden girls theme song?)

don't be a stranger, now!

photo by sussy

i'll stitch you in my heart..

or pay for someone else to do it....

miniature rhino custom stitches them for you.
darling & thoughtful

two more classic worthini moments:

motie and worthie @ vera wang for sussy's bridal fitting.
note the double lean.

(yeah.. i KNOW it's out of focus.. and not in the artsy out-of-focus way)
this is one of my most favoritest pictures.

we had only known each other a week.
dad introduced us to balboa.
we had no idea what kind of adventure was in front of us,
but this magical night was an indication of a
wonderful friendship and journey that was yet to come....

meet my besties: worth

(w and me at the opening preview of grease)
worthina and i met on the national tour of hairspray
we were perky.
we were optimistic.
we were fun.
we worked hard....
(needless to say, hairspray was not ready for us.. but we were ready for eachother.)

... and we have laughed and loved and lost and listened and had
wild adventures all over the country.
worthie introduced me to bloomies fro-yo, monogramed silver, delman flats,
southern living and southern love!

of all of my girls, worthini and i have the most photo documentation of our shenanigans--
narrowing the post photos was difficult at best!

(worthie's bday in philly with dd-me holding a mock-tini
that cute men sent over
below: drunk-skunk worthini posing at a store window.
are you proud of my arrow skills???)

(as worthie's mother in the 'spray...
and w beating my puerto rican hooker in jail)

Where do you live?
nyc, upper west side

what is your favorite color?
periwinkle

what is your favorite city?
Amelia island . fl

What is your favorite thing to cook?
pork tenderloin and bundt cakes!

What beauty product can you not live w ithout?
lipstick

what is your favorite nyc restaurant?
Frankie's Sputino

What is one thing you can’t help but splurge on?
clothes!

What is your favorite word?
yall

What movie can you recite by heart?
Everyone Says I Love You

What is your favorite thing to do on the weekend?
Pancakes at home with Mike and the paper, explore new neighborhoods

which tv show do you makes you happiest?
30 rock, bachelor, flight of the conchords

what is your favorite beverage?
milkshakes!

What is one trend that totally victimized you?
?
(oh i'll tell you! worthini, always a classic dresser, sought to convince me she's a "carrie" -which she most definitely is not, miss charlotte- so she wore ALL of her edgiest pieces in ONE complete outfit..(the infamous philly bday trip--see pics above-after we toned her down).. we're talking a pop art betsy johnson t-shirt, wild earrings, a short seven mini skirt, a strange printed scarf, delman flats (not edgy), a nanette lepore tailored jacket (not edgy) and a louis vuitton purse (again, not edgy)-it made me laugh till i cried. )

If you could trade lives with anyone for a day who would you chose?
nobody

What is your favorite comfort food?
hamburger and french fries, with friends!

What famous person do you think you most resemble?
Clueless days of Alicia Silverstone

What is your favorite adventure that we've shared?
Oooohhhhh my! So many! Maybe my 26th bday in philly! The bus ride when I had all different styles of clothing on! And our dinner with your daddy in Cali, when we first met! Oh,20and our in-and-out burger runs after hairspray rehearsals! And last, but not least, you and I trying to go to the podiatrist (did i spell that right?) in Houston in our convertible in the pouring rain!

What was the best piece of advice you were ever given? Who gave it to you?
" take on many lovers, darling"
My grandmother, Betty told me at dinner on my 21st birthday. I didn't follow thru too well!
(oooh i love betty! she's so lavish!)

What three possessions do you value most?
My art work, cards from Mikey, all the music i have acquired over the years!

What three non-material things do you value most?
my love,family and friends, and health

When was the last time you told someone you loved them? Who was it?

Mike, this morning

(just a typical monday -bachelor night...above in nyc,
below in memphis
with a giant cake courtesy of john pinette)

(worthini supporting me at an "after party" performance)

i love you worthie!!
xoxo

my reading boyfriend.

so maybe he was rehearsing in the same space
and

maybe she was there too
(did you know her girlfriend is "madame president" on 24?)....

and maybe he's flirty..
and maybe i liked it.

(oh, and david hyde pierce was there too...)

yep. i like to eat.

every proper nyc visit
begins at carnegie deli for cheesecake and besties,

wanders over to bloomies for fro yo,
begins each morning @ the corner deli for egg and cheese on a roll (heaven in a breakfast)
and ends with my favorite sandwich shop,
potbelly
(found in dulles airport---dear potbelly, open outposts in UT and NYC, please?!)
for the chocolate banana milkshake, toasted sandwiches and
ridiculous oatmeal chocolate chip cookies
(the ONLY store bought chocolate chip cookie i enjoy)
for the flight.

don't worry.. i still found time for magnolia.

welcome to WONDERLAND!

many of the wonder-ites on lunch break @ lenny's

where else would
prince eric, louis the chef, ursela's eel (little mermaid),
2 elphabas, dr dillamond (wicked),
wenches from the barricade (les miz),
wenches from another french show (2 cities),
a spelling bee,
brooke wyndham (legally blonde),
the professor (south pacific),
raoul (phantom),
the lady of the lake (spamalot),
bielke (fiddler),
2 very memorable characters from sex and the city
and
yours truly, cha cha digregorio

gather, except in
wonderland?!

lauren kennedy. julia murney. derrick baskin

me with michaela and kevin smith kirkwood

derrick baskin. julia murney. me. anne tolpegin. kristy cates. ryan silverman

above: me. alison cimmet. anne tolpegin . kristy cates.
below: john treacy egan. sean palmer.

kristy cates (who is sort of a HILL--doesn't she look like nina?!) and noah weisberg

had the loveliest time & felt so blessed to create with amazing artists.
man, these people are famous for a reason!

you ask:what is a reading, mim?

well, i'll tell you...
often, before a new show is staged, the creative team will have a reading (or 2, or 3, or more...) of the piece to see what needs work. in the later stages of the reading process, they'll invite potential producers to see if they want
to invest in the show. readings are only allowed to be 29 hrs of work for equity actors which usually amounts to one week to learn the entire show (music included) . we then perform the piece at music stands and read the show in its entiretyfor an invited audience.....actors in readings are notguaranteed roles in the fully staged productions--but a reading is an amazing audition....

look for wonderland in tampa
. fall 2009 .

maybe i'll see you there?
we'll see...

i stop for

samoas!!
(or whatever their pc name is now..)

that little girl was brilliant to set up a roadside stand.....
pretty sure i bankrolled her into a pink cadillac or whatever they give them...

it drives me bananas

when people stand thisclose to the baggage claim conveyor belt.
1. it's impossible to see your bag.
2. once you DO see your bag, you have to try to pull it off
without hitting the idiots whose toes are TOUCHING the conveyor belt.
(i have since given up on this... you in my way? you get a samsonite smack.)

seriously... i have travel rage over this...

in my kingdom,
passengers will be required to stand behind a line
3 ft away from the a fore mentioned belt.
then, you will only be allowed to come near belt once your bag is spotted.

that is the courteous way.

peace be with you.

i'm a twit.

i'm twitting, i'm a twitter, i twit!!

ok.. ok..
i'm still quasi-freaked out by this...

but if you want to follow my random thoughts...

tweet with me {here}

i promise, i'm alive!

just having too much fun and too little time/internet access to tell you about it!

but

  nae-nae chronicled the blog summit hummus fest this eve (told you i'd love meg)

and playbill.com reported what i'm working on

needless to say, 

i'm a lucky lucky girl. 

and meeting the coolest people. ... more to come!

how is your week?

i'm a coming home....

to my city of love and possibilities...

to :
make sure my apt is till intact

sleep on gracious friend's couches (nana & e, you're such a life savers!) cause cute subletter is still sleeping in my bed

see my loveliest besties

force lovely besties to meet fun men

receive my package from shavs

do kundalini at sunset in the apartment btwn derek jeter and beyonce

take taylor's pilates class

see west side story and la-la in south pacific on the big broadway

do the reading of wonderland

be inspired by the talent in a fore mentioned reading

sing my little heart out-wildhorn-style

have tea with tazita and meg

pester e

treat myself with bloomie's fro yo and mag's cupcakes

get a $20 mani/pedi

get threaded and waxed. ouch.

find adventures

gather more stories

remind my agents that i am, indeed, alive

bring my stage makeup back for saigon

flirt

eat amazing food

breathe in possibility and motivation to finish my pilot

tell my accountant that i have been a very procrastinating citizen-taxes to finish

grab my passport

switch my seasons of clothing

because, spring is coming!

i'll report back soon.... though i'm not sure how much internet
i'll have hop hop hopping around couches.... at least i'm not on crutches.

hey, utah!
see you in a week!

heart subway map here

overheard at the grocery store....

while a turquoise-wearing, yosemite sam-mustashing,
cigarette-smelling bagger assembled my purchases in paper (not plastic),
he had the following conversation with
a scooter-banged, brown-lipliner-ed checker:

(please read in a utah accent if you have one...or a cowboy twang if you do not)

bagger: ..... so .... i talked to my ex-wife today--after 7 years!!

checker: wow. did she call you?

bagger: no. i called her.

checker: did you miss her or something?

bagger: YEAH! her and me had some reeeeeaaaaallly great times together!!!
(love incorrect grammar! love it!)

checker: does your new wife know?

bagger: um............... (tentatively) yeah.

***
and with that,
i took my bagged aquaphor, diet coke, popsicles, and midol and went on with my day.

how do you feel ....

about dating younger men?

pic by sussy

have you met meg?

no? you haven't met her?

neither have i.

but i want to.

i imagine m and i would be dear friends. ...the kind of friend who also
loves salty and sweet for brunch.
she'd order the banana macadamia nut flapjacks and
i would order the western omelet and we'd happily split.
salty and sweet.

her blog often brings me to tears.
she paints such exquisite pictures of what's inside her heart-
how does she know the same dreams are inside mine?

you must read this post ...
but until you do...
here's a little treat from
the wild and wily ways of a brunette bombshell.

So my dearest, darling-est, dreamiest husband-to-be, know this...

don't take me to the opera. or the rainbow room. don't make it a carriage ride through central park or a weekend getaway. i'm not even sure i need you to get on one knee. but do it on the door step. on the front stoop. sitting next to me. on the same level. turn to me and ask me to be your best friend, your lover, your absolute equal. so that then we can go inside and begin our life together, as we've always known we would.

That being said, you sure as hell better ask my father first. I believe in chivalry. And I was raised in the South.

amen, sister!
tea with tazita next week?

salt in my severed toe wounds

christian louboutin . spring . 2009 .

oooh la la

something blue??

my wardrobe options are limited.

a word from our sponsors: claire & me

welcome claire & me!
check out their etsy shop
(or their link on the right)
for handmade baby sussies
in fab fabrics (amy butler, what?!)
with even more fab prices !
(see that adorable onesie? $8. hollah!)

would it be wrong to have a baby just for
claire & me sussies?

.burp pad.
(love this pattern)

.roll up changing pad.
(note: handy velcro-roll-up feature)

(and did you notice? nary a brain squeezer...go girls!)

candice stringham

last fall, candice stringham photographed me in
a gay icon/cabaret celebrity's
amazing
crib/giant double townhouse in nyc.

i'm such an awkward model
(years of sussy making fun of me behind the lens)
but she made me feel very comfortable.

c, we need to hang out more.

she's good people.

my saigon husband and his best friend

are two of my favorite people.

turns out,
josh rouah
(my sexy stroll dance partner in grease)
will be playing chris (my onstage husband) in miss saigon.
his voice is insane.
he'll be so good.

caught onstage being totally professional

twilight premier....
yup, he's straight....

and lovely,
rodney hicks
(original cast of RENT on broadway)

will be playing his best friend, john.
we met when we were guest stars for the omaha symphony .
he's fantastic.

i also know 3 other people out of the 18 they're flying out from nyc.

it's a small small world.

i'm really getting excited---rumor has it, i may even be blonde....
this show is going to be great.

calm. calm. calm. everything is a-ok.

i'd like to give this sussy to dd.

the clasp says "a-ok".

isn't it dear?

i love everything in the acts of kindness etsy shop. 

starlight, starbright

via my new (to me) favorite blog, creature comforts

you know,

i think my church is pretty classy.

read {this}

pic by nic

little shop of shavs

how awesome is that painting of my very own stellie?!

when shavs offered to do a painting of my precious nugget, i was apprehensive....

what will the fellas think when they walk into my (very girl) pad

 and see a custom painting of my canine child?! freakshow. 

her answer, telling me not to worry (she promised to avoid making me look like that 6th grade girl with posters of unicorns/dolphins on her wall), 

not only put me at ease, but made me want to be her best friend.

shauna lewis is funny AND talented.

i love it. 

can't wait to hang it on my baby blue walls. 

have one made for your pup, child, friend, husb, self...

whatever floats your boat 

(she won't judge). 

visit her etsy shop.

visit her website.

or click her sponsor link to the right (to the right!)

ok. i've been discovered.......

turns out, i was sort of a mormon rockstar
in my younger days....

you may remember me from such brilliant roles as
the annoying girl in the competition
singing
"the birds in june, they sing their cheery fa-la-la-la-la...."

in the mega-hit rigoletto
(starring my very dear friend, ivey)

when i was 9 years old,
sussy and i starred in
children's video songbook vol. 1 and 2
i got to tour with such mormon luminaries as julie de azevedo, afterglow, kenneth cope, bryce neubert, etc.....

for those of you who actually own one of these relics,
look for the moment when i unabashedly
pick my nose on camera.
i'm so proud.


(we weren't in the volume pictured....but i guess, the original copies are out of print?)
info of the original cast {here}

as "julie" in the
25th anniversary commemorative recording of
saturday's warrior
"why wally kessler, you ought to be ashamed of yourself!!"

and the voice of "the seedling" in
michael mclean & bryce neubert's
the garden
(which is actually a beautiful oratorio-find it on itunes)

and for those of you who are familiar with LDS church seminary videos,
i get in a car accident because i was putting on mascara while driving
and other brilliant moments.....,
i'm on the cast recording for "unspoken song" for promised valley playhouse, and last year's lagoon amusement park commercial.....

oooh boy.
i used to be so famous.

meet my besties: Laura

laura (osnes) johnson

(aka. la-la)

i met la-la before she met me. i voted like a super-fan when she competed for the role of "sandy" on natnl. television on "grease: you're the one that i want."

and discovered  that, not only is she the most brilliantly talented ingenue of my generation, she's also the most grounded, lovely, and thoughtful woman of substance.

we bonded over cupcakes, christian living, game nights, girls nights, movie nights, 

rydell high events and success celebrations. 

broadway baseball league . summer 2008 . central park 

sN, me (i PROMISE i'm wearing clothes.... think i had just come from teaching yoga) 

nathan (the husb) & laura

Where do you live? 

 A one-bedroom apartment on the upper west side of Manhattan.

what is your favorite color?

 Blue or Jungle Green

what is your favorite city?

 NYC, of course!

What is your favorite thing to cook?

 Does baking count? Brownies or Cupcakes! 

What beauty product can you not live without?

  MAC studio fix

(best onstage base)

what is your favorite nyc restaurant? 

 Cassellula or Max Brenner's

What is one thing you can’t help but splurge on? 

  Ya know, I'm not a splurger.  But it'd probably be a really good meal or date night!

What is your favorite word? 

 Cuddle

What movie can you recite by heart?

 The Wizard of Oz

What is your favorite thing to do on the weekend?

 Perform in a show!  Hahaa! 

which tv show makes you happiest?

 "24" is my favorite

what is your favorite beverage?

 Fresh Squeezed Lemonade

What is one trend that totally victimized you? 

  I had velcro shoes up until last year.

(i'm loving you for that!)

If you could trade lives with anyone for a day who would you chose?

  My 5-month old nephew, Noah.  It'd be fun to be a baby again.

What is your favorite comfort food? 

  Ice. Cream. 

What famous person do you think you most resemble? 

  Everyone says Rachel McAdams  

what is your favorite adventure that we've shared?

  Besides singing with you in front of the Mormon church or performing at Radio City for the TONYS, probably giggling over cupcakes on that Enchanted Evening.   

What was the best piece of advice you were ever given? Who gave it to you?

   Jesus loves me, this I know.  -- Dad

What three possessions do you value most? 

   My scrapbooks, my camera, my bible

What three non-material things do you value most? 

   My husband (is he considered "material"?), Honesty, Faith

When was the last time you told someone you loved them? Who was it? 

    About 30 minutes ago to my hubby.

la-la opens TONIGHT 

as nellie forbush in 

south pacific

on broadway!!!

break legs, sister!

i love you!

a fish tale | part one

reasons why fish creep me out
scuba | part one

on a family trip to maui, i (at sixteen) decided it would be incredibly

lovely to do a deep sea scuba dive, mermaid-style

(which is apparently illegal now unless you're scuba certified).

we trained on the beach.

we trained in the pool.

we checked our equipment,

went over the hand signals,

loaded our gear and launched into the deep blue sea.

almost immediately, my goggles fill with water.

i fix that.

we descend further and further

and i practice my most ariel-like mermaid moves.

i'm darting and twirling and checking out my new oceanic friends-

trying to find nemo and flipper.

soon, i notice water is filling my breathing tube.

not wanting to "make waves," i decide to take shallow breaths, keep calm, and carry on.

.do-able.

next, our fearless instructor whips out a fish- feeding bag and asks me

to carry it on our journey.

i'm a little agitated by that..... how can ariel do tricky moves with a feed bag!!??

soon.... i feel little nips all over my body....

i realize there is a small hole in the feed bag.

suddenly, i'm swarmed with starving fish eager to eat my food,

my flesh, my bikini, anything....

ouch.

i gasp for air and try to signal for help!!

the breathing tub-y-thing fills with water.

fish.

bites.

no air.

full panic attack ensues...

i peace out and swim for the surface,

ditch my gear on the beach and wait for my group...

later, once i'm de-waterlogged.

i frolic in the waves

(truth be told, the only reason i dragged my soggy self off the beach

was the hot older boys who were surfing nearby. )

when suddenly, i'm smacked down and drug under the surf

(norton, you can appreciate this...)

and stripped of my bikini.

did you know terry cloth bikinis expand when wet?

they do....

and they get lost when stolen by the hawaiian surf.

naked and waterlogged with fish bites stinging from the salty water.

not my finest day.

and that's the reason i say nay-nay* to surfing and scuba diving.

part 2: sushi | coming soon....

*ipt: john pinette

pic found {here}

blue over you.

yes. blue is back. 

(in moderation, kids. let's not go awesome 80's!)

i'm digging mac blooz eye kohl.

just a swipe across the lash line 

makes the whites of your eyes look brighter, 

the blues bluer and is an awesome alternative to harsh black. 

the kohl pencil creates a modern smudgy smokey eye--unlike tranny molly's

 (yes, another bachelor reference).

meet my besties: angieboyleking

ang

(aka. angieboyleking--one word)

{her not-so-mommy blog here}

well, abk has been guiding me ever since she (as glinda) pointed me (as dorothy) down the yellow brick road in cascade elementary's 4-6th grade "wizard of oz."

our next high-flying adventure was flying (and almost killing ourselves) thru 

"never neverland" as peter pan (abk) and

  wendy moira angela darling (me).

(i desperately need to dig out those photos)

our love for syd riggs, food, quick sarcasm, 

commentary on cultural mormonism and a firm belief in doctorinal mormonism 

has kept our relationship fresh and hysterical. 

plus, she's one of my only "mom friends" who isn't a zombie. 

bueno!!

abk, the husb, with their three little chickens and a nugget in the oven.

Where do you live? 

sojo, utah (daybreak)

(soho? how fancy! say it with a spanish accent)

what is your favorite color?

 blue

what is your favorite city? 

 london

What is your favorite thing to cook? 

oatmeal chocolate chip cookies or chicken pot pie

What beauty product can you not live without? 

i live without most :) i know, i know...i should have a few to list here..  chapstick?

what is your favorite nyc restaurant?

 i liked the pizza place you took to me to in brooklyn. 

(grimaldi's)  i dream about it.

What is one thing you can’t help but splurge on?

 food, 

(am i your most boring friend? tell the truth.....)

What is your favorite word? 

mommy

What movie can you recite by heart?

 guffman (you are bastard people!)

What is your favorite thing to do on the weekend?

  go out to eat...movies...

which tv show do you makes you happiest?

 30 Rock

what is your favorite beverage?

  Fresh Lime

What is one trend that totally victimized you? 

too blonde hair...I can't quit!

If you could trade lives with anyone for a day who would you chose? 

miss natalie hill of course

(yikes! i wouldn't wish that on anybody!)

What is your favorite comfort food? 

glades in spanish fork...white sauce!

(yessssss! though i may prefer barry's)

What famous person do you think you most resemble? 

(jennifer aniston and seth is john mayer of course! people get us confused all the time) kidding..people told me last year a lot that i looked like Malin Akerman from 27 dresses and I have been told I look like Reese Witherspoon and Jewel.  Pretty much anyone hot.  Seth gets told he likes like Conan O'Brian all the time...he loves that!

what is your favorite adventure that we've shared?

 our big week in your city...so much fun!  

also flying was pretty great...who can say that? :)

What was the best piece of advice you were ever given? Who gave it to you? 

 I would have to say I loved the late Elder Worthlin's last talk "Come what may and love it."  If I believed in vinyl it would be on my wall.

(you're killing me! high end stenciling!)

What three possessions do you value most?

 pictures,

 i love the green hutch seth made me,

 and my wedding ring (given to me by husband, picked out by syd)

What three non-material things do you value most? 

family, friends, memories 

When was the last time you told someone you loved them? Who was it?

 Seth on the phone, just now...:)

abk at grimaldi's

i love you!

sexy people

sharon turned me onto this gem of a blog.

i laughed so hard, i couldn't breathe. 

the book of me

sussy just popped in for a visit 

and introduced me to her new 5 yr journal.

it's petite, pretty, and purposeful. 

i'm ordering one today. 

buy yours {here}

ok, ok, ok!!!

this is my new glee-glee watch you all saw here

she's cheap and cheerful

and (true confession)

 i totally copied my insanely fashionable bestie, lints,

(whose blog is private... sorry suckers)

who found it on sale on amazon.

a matinee at the opera

(grand)mama and i 

are going on a lovely saturday morning date 

to the opera

to see 

the metropolitan opera's 

 madama butterfly

{puccini}

streamed live into the comfort of our neighborhood 

movie theatre. 

{ find a theatre showing the met's live in HD series here}

what could be better?

beautiful opera

 (upon which, miss saigon is based),

an appreciative opera star grandmother,

 wearing sweats to the opera

(though, i DO love dressing to the 9's for the opera in nyc), 

a huge diet coke, 

and a vat of popcorn. 

(can't do THAT a the met!)

heaven. 

i {heart} goldie necklaces that say "i {heart}"

i {heart}
this necklace
and
the option to personalize the city or the initials
of your one and only...

great gift!!
specially for ME!

zoe chicco, you're a genius.

would you rather....

have an insanely beautiful face

but

an unfortunately shaped body?

or

have a rockin' body

but

a "butter face"?

(you know, everything's good butter face?)

(dazzling personality aside, natch)

photo of me by mark for rubberball

meet my besties: dhyana

me as velma . dd . worthie as amber 

. hairspray .

new years eve . memphis . 2006 (?)

meet my bestie:  dhyana 

legal name: dhyana mira satma prima charlotte guenevere colony

 (dd, correct my spelling please?)

(aka. dd)

d and i met when she was my boss on hairspray. 

we bonded over a love of adventure, expensive shoes, 24, great food and most of all, 

living for an experience. 

dd is a card-carrying "honorary mormon" as she's been on

 lds-linkup dates, 

hill family general conference weekends, 

and most intense of all......

a single mormon's weekend in

 duck beach. 

oy vey.  what a trooper!

duck beach 

Where do you live?
Las Vegas or fill in the blank city - this week Chicago
what is your favorite color?
Turquoise
what is your favorite city?
Any place with a beach, New Orleans, Seattle, San Francisco, Newport Beach
What is your favorite thing to cook?
Baking cookies
What beauty product can you not live without?
Chapstick
what is your favorite nyc restaurant?
Rosa Mexicana
What is one thing you canʼt help but splurge on?
Shoes and make up
What is your favorite word?
I don't think I have one. Hope?
What movie can you recite by heart?
Clueless, Steel Magnolias
What is your favorite thing to do on the weekend?
Road trip

(yeah!!!)
which tv show do you makes you happiest?
Real Housewives, The Hills

(dd, i forgot to tell you, i have major juice bar on rhoc!!)
what is your favorite beverage?
Green Iced Tea, Diet Dr. Pepper
What is one trend that totally victimized you?
Puffy bangs with too much hairspray in high school

(you and me both..)
If you could trade lives with anyone for a day who would you chose?
a prima ballerina dancing giselle
What is your favorite comfort food?
Mac n cheese, chips and salsa
What famous person do you think you most resemble?
No clue
what is your favorite adventure that we've shared?
How do I pick one? Duck beach, Run for the border to Toronto, Washington DC (you actually convinced people you were a back up singer for Mariah!)

(we need a road trip, stat!)
What was the best piece of advice you were ever given? Who gave it to you?
I usually give advice more than I receive.

(very true... but what about, "you can't reason with crazy!!" wisdom!)
What three possessions do you value most?
Except for my photo albums I could lose everything and be okay. Having my own washer and dryer is a serious life enhancer however.
What three non-material things do you value most?
My family, my friends, every last breath taking place in nature
When was the last time you told someone you loved them? Who was it?

My aunt before I got on the airplane and flew overseas.

dd has started blogging about her awesome road adventures {here}

stellie

would like this george orwell quote above her bed.
find it here

today only!

buy radin's simple times
complete cd for only
$1.99 (what!!!???)
on amazon.

thanks to nettie's fb status for the tip!

don't judge.

i'm obsessed!

meet my besties: ali

one of my favorite pictures

al and her childhood bff, hilly
ali is 4'11" & hill is 5'11"
we call them
mutt & jeff

meet s5, ali-baba.
my 15 (almost 16)yr old hilarious, loving, interesting, bright, witty and fun baby-est sister.
she is a computer genius and budding style maven...

al! i think this is the grooviest pic! i want a copy!

notice her color text...

Where do you live?
Orem
what is your favorite color?
Teal
what is your favorite city?
Santa Barbera
What is your favorite thing to cook?
Chocolate Pie and Crepes
What beauty product can you not live without?
Mascara
what is your favorite nyc restaurant?
Bubby's
What is one thing you can’t help but splurge on?
Caramel apple suckers.. chunky monkey ice cream
What is your favorite word?
Don't have one
(um... i'm pretty sure it's "actually")
What movie can you recite by heart?
Anything with Jim Carrey, Mean girls, Baby Mama
What is your favorite thing to do on the weekend?
Hopefully hangout with cute boys
which tv show do you makes you happiest?
The Bachelor, 24, and One Tree Hill
what is your favorite beverage?
Guarana, sengria, Dr. P, Mtn. Dew
What is one trend that totally victimized you?
?
If you could trade lives with anyone for a day who would you chose?
"Regina George.. She's flawless. She had two fendi purses and a silver lexus"
What is your favorite comfort food?
Chunky monkey ice cream
What famous person do you think you most resemble?
Rachel Bilson... or so im told
what is your favorite adventure that we've shared?
Everyone! Ha i can't narrow it down
What was the best piece of advice you were ever given? Who gave it to you?
Natalie " You should wear your makeup like me... Because im so pretty"
(it was a joke.....but really she should....;)
What three possessions do you value most?
Phone.. shocker there. My puppy Zippy (does that count?) and my 10 year journal
What three non-material things do you value most?
FAMILY! house, Church
When was the last time you told someone you loved them? Who was it?

No comment
(hmm..... interesting....)

pilates by jen taylor

tay-tay, is one of my oldest and dearest college gals
-we've seen each other thru wild college drama, crazy food restrictions,
regional exiles, 2 lavish weddings,
and life after it all calms down....

she now teaches sculpting pilates mat classes in nyc.

your first class is only $5!!
(holy MOLY!!)

run, ny'ers, run!
swimsuit season is nearly upon us!

she's amazing- and so is her body!

visit
www.PilatesByJenTaylor.com

there is a magical place in salt lake city

where the walls are covered with graffiti,
the oven is seasoned in history of pizza's past,
and
the pull-apart cheese bread is only a promissory note of good flavor to come....

here, in this special place,
you can find the most ridiculous flavor experience you've ever had:

the buffalo chicken pizza
+ gouda
- red onion

this place is heaven.
(otherwise known as)

the pie
(i'm in trouble.... this magical tavern is ONE block from pioneer theatre company. )

meet my besties: naomi

many of you know nae-nae as taza,
headband artisan extrordinaire
(no, she doesn't do brain-squeezers)
from rockstar diaries.
well... we go way back to when she showed up @ the singles congregation
with her equally stylish sister wearing smart red boots.

i knew i'd found a kindred spirit.


Where do you live?

New York City, baby.

what is your favorite color?

Mustard...

What is your favorite city?

I'm biased. NYC will always be my first love.

What is your favorite thing to cook?

Puffed Pancakes (also known as German Pancakes. With some powdered sugar and fruit, mmmm. Divine!)
(holy moses! that's pretty much the only thing i cook!!)

What beauty product can you not live without?

Sabon's Patchouli Lavender Vanilla Dead Sea Salt Scrub.

What is your favorite nyc restaurant?

Balthazar's. Coming in at a close second would be Mercer Kitchen.
(love me the balthezar goat cheese/onion tart)

What is one thing you can’t help but splurge on?

Polaroid film. It's crazy expensive but I can't help it. I LOVE the polaroid camera.

What is your favorite word?

Tea party. (I guess that's two. Sorry.)

What movie can you recite by heart?

Singin' in the Rain. And unfortunately, She's The Man (that awful soccer movie with Amanda Bynes? Yeah....)

What is your favorite thing to do on the weekend?

Being with the husband. Doesn't matter if we're doing something extravagant or just staying in lying on the sofa all day together. I just love my husband time.

Which tv show do you makes you happiest?

30 Rock. No question.

What is your favorite beverage?

Tea. And Diet Coke. ....And unfortunately, whenever I'm with you, Nat, I somehow chug liters of Diet Coke and think it's OK. Bad influence!!
(muaaahaahaaahaaa! my evil plan is working!)

What is one trend that totally victimized you?

A lot of them do. :| Ha.

If you could trade lives with anyone for a day who would you chose?

Tina Fey. I would, I would.

What is your favorite comfort food?

Anything baked and sweet. Like, cookies... Levain cookies.

What famous person do you think you most resemble?

None. And if one more person says I look like Mandy Moore.... grr. Boo.

(nope. i don't see it)

What is your favorite adventure that we've shared?

Oh the awkward run in's are always fun. ;) I also loved that time after we did indian and the woman at the nail salon asked if we were sisters and you said YES and she was all, I know I know! You look so alike!

I felt really pretty all of the sudden!!

(oh, i'm so sure! i should be so lucky! oooh yeah.. i'm the awkward run-in queen!)

What was the best piece of advice you were ever given? Who gave it to you?

To just "let it go." Given by my Mama, a very wise lady indeed.

What three possessions do you value most?

My camera, my wedding ring, this owl candle from Urban Outfitters which I've fallen in love with (it's beautiful).

What three non-material things do you value most?

My family, my faith, my good health.

When was the last time you told someone you loved them? Who was it?

Um, yeah... like 5 seconds ago. (Embarrassing.) To my husband. I sort of really like that boy a lot.

I love Natalie!!!! Come back to NYC!!!!

aw thanks!! i love YOU!
i'll be back in a jiff!

you've got to have

faith! faith!

isn't this m2 reminder just precious!?

eeeshkas!!!!! --as worth would say......

holy moses.

first of all...
the taping kept "private" because of the tender feelings of all parties involved?
no... it was "private" because they didn't want the zinger to be leaked.
but...we all knew the ending...

didn't you LOVE how chris gave them "space"
while the rest of america didn't....

you all know how i feel about these two gals.
not having them.
boo. hoo.
hope jill feels vindicated!

note: it was OBVIOUSLY raining the entire time they shot on the islands because the
heavens were crying over his rejection of jillian.

deanna
the stupid ex

bo-ring.
sister, why were you waddling??
that was the most un-dramatic meeting.

molly
aka. the perky byu co-ed

silver smoky-eyes in the middle of broad daylight?
and raggedy pony?
it was like a busted drag queen who'd been out all night stumbled in for a
6 am meet-the-parents.

and

110% of yourself, molls?
was that your way of saying you "....you know"-ed?

"i just don't understand. you've made a big mistake."????
bold.

did anybody else get the idea that she's had some work done btwn the final rose and the confrontation??
botox around the laugh lines? something was different.
she handled it well...
she still bugs.

melissa
aka. the try-hard cheerleader
nice white bikini on natnl. television. classy.
and the hearty jesska simpson chuckle.... stop.
i'm not sure a maxi-mou-mou was the strongest choice when receiving a
neil lane sparkler.

....and sister wasn't about to go down without a fight! nice!
i sort of loved how she gave it to him!
yes, bitter betty!!
take out the weave, rip off the nails, pluck out the hoops and
give him a swift upper cut to the jaw!!

jase
the bach

i don't think you're a bad guy...
(note: i would probably hate you if i had ANY investment in the final 2 girls)
you just make bad choices....(the ex wife... letting jillian go)
except for the ring. that was decent.

the relationship with molly will explode, too.
mark. my. words.
b.y.h.

....wait... did he just say part II???? tomorrow night?
awesome.

t.g.i.found out you're cheap.... and awkward.

many moons ago, i went on a first date to the brand new
t.g.i.f. in my hometown.
he asked. he planned.
i accepted.

my date was kind of a "big deal" and i was really looking forward to it.
it was evening so i saved my calories to splurge on this "big meal."

as soon as we were seated, he slapped the menu shut.

he: well, i have $4 in quarters and i was thinking of getting one of their
slushie drinks.
so if you want anything... i think there'll be like $.5 that
i could put toward whatever you want.....

obviously i didn't order a MEAL.
i had money (every prepared dater does) but
why would i prolong the cheapest date of the century?

me: water is fine, thanks.

there was no second date.

the great eye cream debate

so buying eye cream completely frazzles me.
which to buy?

de-puffer?
moisturizer?
wrinkle reducer?
dark circle corrector?

what if i need them all?

i can't buy two and look totally high maintenence, can i? (pun intended)

motie turned me on to
boots no.7 time resisting day/night cream

eureka!

one side with de-puffing/de-dark circling for the morning
and one side with moisturizing/wrinkle resisting for sleeping.

i love it.

thunder rolls!

and the lightning strikes!
(dun dun DUN!)

s4, kara,
is a ut valley thunder
(arena football team)
dancer!

go keitch!

not sure if they're (the players... not dancers) any good
(the first scrimmage is today, monday, march 2)
but i think their t-shirts are really tough.

team website here

laughter = best medicine

"The only way to get through life is to laugh your way through it.
You either have to laugh or cry.
I prefer to laugh.

Crying gives me a headache."

.marjorie pay hinckley.

this week,

i am so thankful for:

..mom-cousins (including jane's-pictured above-mom)
who ditch their families to have
giggle-filled, pant-wetting (not me!), tightie-whitie talking,
sleepovers in the
grand style of 12 yr old girls.

..wonderful friends and family who have spent hours
in the hospital reminiscing and laughing with us.

..a brave father who is always in the mood for levity.

and

3 seasons of 30 rock
(when we get tired of making up fresh material.)

hope you have a funny sabbath day!

pic by sussy, natch